1. Leonardo da Vinci
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
When it comes to making art, the whole point is to show rather than tell. After all, a picture is supposed to be worth 1,000 words, so it’s no surprise that most artists prefer to leave the talking to their work. But that doesn’t mean artists never say what’s on their minds.
Indeed, some of art history’s most famous figures have weighed in on any number of topics. But they’ve been especially eloquent on the subject of art and its ineffable qualities—as you’ll see in our list of the best quotes about art by famous artists.
RECOMMENDED:
🗿 The top sculpture artists of all time
🎨 The best Matisse paintings ever and where to find them
🏛️ The best museums and galleries in the world
⛰️ The most beautiful places in the world
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.”
“I don’t paint things. I only paint the difference between things.”
“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.”
“I hate flowers. I paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move.”
“To paint is the most terrific thing that there is, but to do it well is very difficult.”
“A painting is not a picture of an experience, but is the experience.”
“Art is what you can get away with.”
“People ask about art and commercialism. I think that if someone tries to sell their work at a high price, that is the wrong way of doing it.”
“Believing in one’s own art becomes harder and harder when the public response grows fonder.”
“The artist is like an abuser of everything, picture, history, and other people.”
Discover Time Out original video